Selective ablation of pain-sensing neurons by administration of a vanilloid receptor agonist

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and kits for the selective ablation of pain-sensing neurons. The methods comprise administration of a vanilloid receptor agonist to a ganglion in an amount that causes death of vanilloid receptor-bearing neurons. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods of controlling pain and inflammatory disorders that involve activation of vanilloid receptor-bearing neurons.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating pain in a patient comprising administering a vanilloid receptor-1 (VR1) agonist to the patient, wherein the VRI agonist is administered to a ganglion, wherein the pain in the patient is caused by a disease selected from the group consisting of post-herpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, neuropathic pain, a chronic viral infection an inflammatory disease, and cancer; and wherein the ganglion is selected from the group consisting of a dorsal root ganglion, a trigeminal ganglion, and an autonomic ganglion; and the VR1 agonist is administered to the ganglion or a nerve root, and wherein the VR-1 agonist is administered to the ganglion at a volume of from 100 microliters to 500 microliters. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the VR1 agonist is resiniferatoxin. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the VR1 agonist is administered in an amount from about 50 nanograms to about 50 micrograms. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the VR1 agonist is administered in an amount from about 100 nanograms to about 500 micrograms. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the VR1 agonist is administered in an amount from 200 nanograms to 1 microgram.